James Peyton

By Staff, 06/3/19 6:44 AM

James “Jim” William Peyton, 77, of Dover, died Thursday, May 9, 2019, at Arkansas Hospice River Valley Home in Russellville.  The son of James and Estelle Irene (Davis) Peyton, he was born July 7, 1941, in Hope, AR.  He married Bonnie J. (Clark) Peyton, on June 2, 1960, in Hope, and together, they worshipped among the Baptist faith family.  He enjoyed hunting & fishing, especially when he and Bonnie lived on the west coast, he spent lots of time fishing in San Francisco Bay, and several excursions to Alaska.  They Little River near Fulton, AR was also one of his favorite fishing places.

James was one of the hardest working people you would ever want to meet.  He had endless energy and was always willing to help others.  His family was the most important thing in his life.

His mechanical mind knew no bounds.  When he was around 16 years of age, his father bought him a set of tools and told him to start working on the family car.  He did, and the work became a passion for him.  He spent 8 years at General Motors auto manufacturing plant in California, and upon returning to Arkansas, he took a job learning how to rebuild transmissions from the ground up; and he learned from the best, Jim Woods.  James later opened his own shop where he and Bonnie worked together until they moved to Wasilla, AK.

Being the energetic worker that he was, James did side work in home repairs.  After his retirement from automotive work, he started raising poultry.  Along the way, he took an interest in computers and became a real whiz at building & maintaining computers.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his two sons, James Carlton Peyton and James William Peyton.  He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Bonnie Peyton; their three daughters, Charlotte S. McKeon (Tom) of Colorado Springs, CO; Carla J. Peyton of Perth, Australia; and Cara A. Peyton of San Pablo, CA; their five grandchildren, Susan Hill, Ashley McMurphy (Jacob), Jennifer Hill, Tommy McKeon and Alexandria Carriere; three great-grandchildren, Monica Lopez, Ezekiel McMurphy and Alexia McMurphy; his two sisters, Peggy Joy Sweesy and Barbara Ann Smith; and his brother, David R. Peyton. 

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Humphrey Funeral Service.  The family will hold a memorial service at 1pm on Saturday, June 8th, 2019 at Guernsey Baptist Church in Hope, AR.  Brother Charles Jones will officiate. Interment will be at Memory Gardens in Hope, AR.